The Medellin International Art Encounter (MDE) is a project organized and carried out by the Museum of Antioquia that has helped the city emerge as a major hub of the international art scene, promoting the production, circulation and appropriation of contemporary artistic practices. MDE puts into question the conventional format of biennials, not only their periodicity but also their need to connect to internal agents in order to strengthen local culture.

In keeping with the Museum’s philosophy, MDE aims to leave the main building of the Museum and go out into the streets to meet the community, seeing artistic practice as a tool to help strengthen social fabric, civic participation and the appropriation of public spaces.

MDE07 Its theme was “Contemporary Artistic Practices – Spaces of Hospitality,” and explored different notions of space and the circulation of people, artistic projects and cultural conceptions. Hospitality was conceived as a strategy to activate and encourage communication between artistic practices and the city. It featured 80 artists and 26 collectives from 14 countries. Its curators were Ana Paula Cohen, Alberto Sierra, Jaime Ceron, Jose Roca, Maria Ines Rodriguez and Oscar Muñoz.

MDE11 Its theme was “Teaching and Learning – Places of Knowledge in Art,” and explored the different ways of construction and recreation of knowledge in and from art, as well as the teaching potential of collaborative and community practices.

This version gave priority to the process of art production and the collaboration involved, trying to find possible problems and different ways of production in art practice and among different authors, communities, collectives and students from Medellin and other places.

MDE11 featured 109 artists and experts from 24 countries, five local venues and had initial advice from Jose Roca. Its curators were Nuria Enguita Mayo, Eva Grinstein, Bill Kelley Jr. and Conrado Uribe.

MDE15 November 2015 - March 2016. The curatorial team includes Nydia Gutierrez as artistic director; Fernando Escobar as national curator; Tony Evanko as local curator; and Edi Muka and Sharon Lerner as international curators. See the extensive Special by UiU